Leading into this secret passage was a set of stairs that would bring us into the middle of the tree.
I was surprised to see this, but I also followed her into this passage.
This passage was quite well lit for a secret passage, but it wasn't lit by torches as one would expect. Instead, there was a glowing moss that was growing on the walls of the passage that lit the way.
Judging by the light they released, it seemed that this was some kind of phosphorescent moss that grew naturally.
But I didn't have time to admire this moss as the green haired elder quickly led the way.
We followed this passage for some time until she finally arrived at a door.
This passage had stopped going down after a certain point and had led us forward for a long while before we reached this door.
When we arrived at the door, the green haired elder raised her hand as if she was telling me to wait before walking forward to stand in front of the door. Then she raised her hand again to draw some symbols in the air with mana that she threw at the door.
These symbols disappeared into the door the moment that they made contact with it.
Then once those symbols disappeared, there was a light that appeared around the door.
This light flashed once before it disappeared without a trace.
After the light disappeared, there was a clicking sound that rang out before the door in front of us opened.
Once it opened, the green haired elder didn't hesitate to walk through this door, but I was a bit more hesitant.
I walked up and looked past it before walking through it.
When I looked through, I found that this was a passage that had led us out of the village.
We were now deep in the forest outside of the village.
At the very least, this was a place that I didn't recognize.
So I had no choice but to follow the green haired elder.
She was very familiar with this place and it took her no time to lead us over to what seemed to be a path. However, this path seemed like it was made of wood, or rather, it seemed like it was the root of a tree instead of an actual path.
Seeing that I had a hesitant look on my face, the green haired elder said, "It's just the root of the Tree of Life, it's nothing dangerous."
I looked at her with a doubtful look, but since I couldn't see anything from her face, I decided to follow her.
The two of us walked atop this giant root and in no time, we arrived at the base of the giant tree that this root belonged to.
This tree…really was fitting of the name Tree of Life.
With how strong the trunk was, how green the leaves were, how fresh the air was around it, it was as if the very essence of life could be found in this place.
The two of us walked right up the trunk of the Tree of Life.
As we were standing there, I saw that there was something that was at the base of this Tree of Life.
It seemed to be some kind of altar that was glowing with green energy.
The two of us came right up to the altar before the green haired elder suddenly fell to her knees in front of the altar.
I couldn't help being taken aback when I saw this and I felt very uncomfortable as I didn't know what to do in this situation.
Was I supposed to go to my knees like the green haired elder had done and worshipped the Goddess of Life?
But as I was standing there in a daze, there was a green glow that suddenly appeared around the green haired elder.
This was a faint light at first, but then it became brighter and brighter until there was finally one bright flash of light.
After this bright flash of green light, the light that had been around the green haired elder disappeared.
I was surprised by this at first until I realized what had happened.
That green light hadn't disappeared, but rather it had transferred to me.
When I looked closely at it, it was as if I could see something through that green energy.
But then I was pulled out of these thoughts by a voice.
"It's you. You're finally here."
I looked around myself when I heard this, trying to find the source of this voice.
However, no matter how I looked around, I couldn't find a single other person.
There was only me and the green haired elder who were currently standing there in front of the altar.
It was even so quiet here that it didn't seem like there were any other creatures in the surrounding area which was strange. After all, this was a place that seemed to be filled with the aura of life, but there weren't any creatures around…
That would be unsettling no matter how one thought about it.
Seeing that he was looking around like a crazy person, the green haired elder revealed a knowing smile, but she didn't say a thing.
She just stood up and walked away, leaving Zwein alone at the altar.
Even though this was a very important place for the elven village and elven race, she was willing to leave him alone here…
But I didn't notice any of this as the voice said, "Let's bring you to see me now."
I couldn't understand what this voice meant, but then there was a flash of green light in front of my eyes.
This was a bright flash of green light that made me unable to keep my eyes open, so I had no choice but to close them.
When I opened them again, I found that I was in a completely different place from before.
I was no longer at the base of that giant tree, but rather I was in a forest that was filled with the same aura of life as before.